All Blacks sweat on Carter as star pulls up injured

ALL BLACKS superstar Dan Carter is a serious doubt for tomorrow’s Millennium Stadium showdown with Wales.

ALL BLACKS superstar Dan Carter is a serious doubt for tomorrow’s Millennium Stadium showdown with Wales.

The fly-half twinged his right leg during training at the University of Glamorgan playing fields in Treforest yesterday.

His condition will be assessed this morning and a decision on whether or not he will play against Wales will be announced at the final team run at the Millennium at 3pm.

If he is ruled out, it will be a major boost for Warren Gatland’s men who are badly in need of a lift after back-to-back home defeats to Argentina and Samoa.

Carter has proved Wales’ nemesis over the years, scoring 162 points in his nine appearances against them at an average of 18 per match.

He appeared to hurt his leg as he put in a kick 20 minutes into yesterday’s session, which was held in wet and windy conditions at Treforest.

The 30-year-old – whose World Cup campaign was cut short by a groin injury – looked to be in immediate discomfort and exchanged training bibs with his understudy Aaron Cruden during a work-out that was curtailed because of the appalling weather.

It’s the second time this week he’s failed to finish training, having departed early during Tuesday’s session at the same venue.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was questioned about Carter’s fitness at a press conference in Cardiff yesterday morning ahead of training.

Asked if the Crusaders star was carrying an injury, Hansen emphatically replied: “No”.

But in the wake of the fly-half pulling up in training, it’s now been confirmed that there is an issue.

A New Zealand spokesman last night told the Western Mail: “Dan his twinged his right leg.

“He will be assessed tomorrow and there will be a further update at the captain’s run.”

If the 93-cap Carter is sidelined, then young Cruden would almost certainly step up from the bench to start at fly-half.

The All Blacks also have a worry over Carter’s half-back partner Aaron Smith, who has a problem with his left knee.

Scrum-half Smith, who has burst onto the Test scene in such impressive fashion this year, stepped out of training after 15 minutes yesterday.

If Smith isn’t right, then the experienced Piri Weepu will start at No.9 with Tawera Kerr Barlow coming into the reserves.

Beauden Barrett has been cleared of having broken ribs so should be fit to join the bench as fly-half cover if required, although the versatile Weepu can also cover that position.

The world champion All Blacks are unbeaten in 19 Tests, having recorded comfortable victories over Scotland and Italy so far on tour.

Meanwhile Hansen has upped the mind games ahead of the showdown with Wales by dismissing claims Warren Gatland is ready to ride to the rescue.

Hansen insisted Gatland had already played a prominent role in preparing Wales ahead of the morale-sapping defeats to Argentina and Samoa.

And he maintained suggestions Wales’ double Grand Slam-winning coach is returning with the magic touch to galvanise the team for tomorrow’s clash are off the mark.

Gatland has put aside his Lions duties to resume command of the Wales camp for the big game of the autumn.

Asked if Gatland would make much of a difference, Hansen responded: “I didn’t know he had left! He only had Saturdays off, let’s be honest about that. The bottom line is he’s been involved.”

Hansen, addressing a press conference to announce his team to face Wales, continued: “You jokers are pumping him up, so that will help, I guess.

“But he hasn’t left, that’s the reality.”

Hansen, who was himself in charge of Wales between 2002-04, said he didn’t have “too much sympathy” for a team pilloried by the public and accused of “a lack of effort” by former skipper Gareth Thomas following the 26-19 calamity to Samoa.

“I’m in the opposition camp these days,” said Hansen. “But what this sort of thing does do is make them tighter.

“Invariably, when they get criticised, they get tighter. It will make them more dangerous, I think.”

Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde admitted that Gatland had already been in camp, but said any interpretation of his contribution this week would be judged on the result.

“It depends how we do on Saturday, if we win then he is the Messiah who has turned everything around,” said McBryde. “But he is very experienced. Warren isn’t fazed by the All Blacks, having been one himself.

“The fact we are playing New Zealand focuses us anyway but he adds to that. It is good to have an extra pair of eyes. Warren has been in and around the camp anyway in the first couple of weeks as well so it’s not completely new.”

The World Cup holders are unbeaten in 19 Tests and Hansen is taking nothing for granted against wounded Wales, naming his strongest team for the Cardiff clash.

That means the world’s greatest two players, Carter – if fit – and Richie McCaw, are recalled, Hansen determined his Class of 2012 won’t be the New Zealand side who Wales end their hoodoo against.

Wales haven’t beaten their old foes since a 13-8 victory at Cardiff Arms Park way back in 1953 and Hansen declared: “Our job is to go out and stamp our mark on the game.

“Provided we keep our composure, stick to our game and play the way we know we can, the opportunities will come for us.”

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